FCF Sightings:
DeSouza In Peru
By Loretta Hunt
Spanning the globe for MMA coverage, FCF brings you to the breathtaking landscapes of beautiful Peru, home to UFC 31, 32, and 33 veteran Tony DeSouza, spotted here outside the ancient ceremonial ruins of Machu Picchu. A rising star in the UFC remembered best for his superb wrestling and lightening fast submission skills, DeSouza stepped out of the spotlight two years ago to promote his own gym in his native land, and was slated to appear on UFC 38’s July 2002 card in London, England before opponent Gil Castillo dropped out due to illness. Always a fighter, though, and with some newly sharpened boxing skills in tow, the crafty welterweight has spent the last month traveling up the mighty Amazon via riverboat on route to Brazil to reunite with his instructor Andre Pederneiras of the famed Nova Uniao fight team. The impressive Nova Uniao family has fostered recent successes Renato "Charuto" Verissimo and Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro among their ranks, as well as American standouts John Lewis and UFC welterweight champion BJ Penn. DeSouza is hoping to follow in his brethren’s footsteps with a return to fighting in a yet-to-be named Brazilian promotion as early as July. From there, 29-year old DeSouza told FCF he is open to returning to the States and the UFC later this year, or might even head east onto the flourishing Japanese scene. As always, FCF will keep you posted on it all.
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